that "unauthorized" persons had been trying to settle the "Blockade Question" in such a way as to keep the Colony from having any vice in the matter, and how the Connect decided against the introduction of the Foreign Inspectorate in any form or shape. Lord Carmaroon will have the Hong Kong reply for guidance, but from Wade, who is worried with the Yunnan affair, no serious answer can be looked for yet awhile.
"The Colony's "platform" is this: You Chinese ought to collect duties on goods when they arrive in China, and, as it is in your power to establish Custom Houses everywhere along your Coast, we protest against your annoying Hong Kong trade by attempting to control the centre, and require you to confine your action to the circumference.
The Chinese "platform" on the other hand is this:- Your Colony is the headquarters of foreign trade, especially Opium trade, and is peculiarly close to our Coast, so we need to establish Custom Houses everywhere along our Coast, and ...
Bor.